MIM withdraws support from Centre, AP govt

HYDERABAD: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) today withdrew its support to the UPA at the Centre and the state government, accusing the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh of giving a free run to Sangh activists.

MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi took exception to RSS activists allegedly being allowed to erect a tarpaulin on a religious structure at Charminar yesterday, which, he said, was a violation of the state High Court order to maintain status quo.

He alleged that Muslim minorities were targeted and "Sangh activists" were allowed to have a free run.

Under the circumstances, the MIM cannot afford to continue its support to the Congress, Owaisi told reporters here.

MIM has seven MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and one MP (Asaduddin Owaisi) in Lok Sabha.

Congress has a strength of 155 in the 294-member Assembly.

Though MIM's withdrawal of support may not pose immediate threat to the state government, it may affect its stability as three Congress MLAs have switched loyalty to YSR Congress in recent time.